Dissidents seeking Sonia intervention in Arunachal crisis

With the Arunachal Pradesh governance in a state of limbo even as the open rebellion by a section of Congress MLAs shows no signs of dissipating, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's intervention is being desperately sought.

"We are hoping for Sonia Gandhi's intervention now that she is back and fine," said one of the rebel MLAs who claims to be part of a 24-strong group of MLAs.

A large section of Congress MLAs led by state congress party chief and PWD minister Nabam Tuki has been camping in New Delhi since July 23 demanding the removal of chief minister Jarbom Gamlin.

Known for its political turbulence, the 60-member state assembly presently has 42 Congress members, 5 from the NCP, 5 from Trinamool, 4 from PPA, 3 from BJP, with one being an independent legislator.

The root of the latest crisis lies in the 'hurried' manner in which Gamlin was appointed the CM and in the allotment of portfolios where the wide-ranging experience of senior Congress leaders like Nabam Tuki, Tako Dabi, Mukut Mithi and Takam Sanjay was felt to have been disregarded in the process.

"Besides the adhoc manner in which Gamlin has been appointed CM, we also resent his autocratic and vindictive mode of functioning besides his 'anti-party' effort to remove the state Congress chief," said another rebel MLA.

Interestingly, in July, chief minister Gamlin had also led a team of MLAs to New Delhi seeking the Congress high command's action to oust state Congress party chief Nabam Tuki. The CM-led delegation could not meet anyone from the party high command but a message was sent to the MLAs to go back to Arunachal and deliver on the election manifesto.

The CM's post was laid vacant after the sudden death of Dorjee Khandu, then chief minister, in a chopper crash on April 30 2011.

"Governance has come to a standstill because of this political turmoil with common people suffering the most. Timely intervention of

Sonia Gandhi is an urgent call of the hour," said Bamang Tago, a leading civic society activist who heads the NGO Arunachal Citizens Right.